Earth anchor



C. R. PIEPER March 15, 1966 EARTH ANCHOR Filed Jan. 15, 1962 INVENTOR CHESTER R- PIEPER QQPBMMPWwZ ATTORNEYS produce all desired sizes of eight inch anchors.

United States Patent 3,239,974 EARTH ANCHOR Chester R. Pieper, 790 Lilac Drive, Santa Barbara, Calif. Filed Jan. 15, 1962, Ser. No. 166,130 12 Claims. (Cl. 52-161)) This invention relates generally to improvement in an earth anchor, and more particularly to improvements in an expansion device of this character which presents a four-lobed expansion type anchor of simplified, highly durable construction and relatively low manufacturing cost.

It is an important object to provide an expansion earth anchor that includes a plurality of blade members each of which has a blade and an integral web separated by a bending zone, each web having a side portion displaced from the plane of the other side portion, and each blade member having the relatively raised side portion overlapping the relatively lowered side portion of an adjacent blade member, and includes means for securing the Webs together.

An important objective is to achieve an improved structural arrangement and interconnection of nested webs in a four-piece four-way anchor.

Another important objective is realized by the provision of an ear on one web portion of each blade member, and of a slot in the other web portion which is adapted to receive the ear of the nested web portion of an adjacent blade member, the ears being bendable to secure the webs and hence the blade members together.

Still another important object is to provide an alternate means for attaching the nested webs which consist of rivets extending through and interconnecting the overlapped web portions.

Another important object is achieved by displacing one side web portion of each Web from the plane of the other side web portion a distance approximating the thickness of the web so as to provide a substantially fiat top surface when the webs are nested and attached.

Yet another important objective is realized by arranging the ears and compatible slots that interconnect the nested webs of the blade members substantially at right angles to a line bisecting the longitudinal axes of adjacent blade members in order to obtain a connection having substantially the same stress-resistance along such axes of all blade members.

Another important object is afforded by constructing the relatively displaced side web portions of each Web of substantially equal width with a shoulder therebetween along the longitudinal axes of the blade member, the inner margin of each web abutting or lying close to the shoulders of adjacent blade members when the webs are nested in overlapped relation.

Other important advantages are realized in that the structure provides an economy in material, enables a minimum of material above the blade-expanding base yet provides a maximum of material out beyond the base where it contributes to holding power, affords a head or nested web that has a double thickness for strength and rigidity yet requires less material than is used in the conventional two-piece anchor, permits a reduction in heighth when closed which enables a positive opening action with a minimum of ram blows and thereby reduces the possibility of damage, and enables a smaller length of blade beyond the edge of the base disc and thereby reduces the leverage of the blade ends and the possibility of bending at a fulcrum point on the disc edge.

Another important objective is realized in that production is greatly simplified because one set of simple dies Two blade blanks with all holes are produced at each blow of the press.

3,239,974 Patented Mar. 15, 1966 ice One set of forming dies takes care of all sizes.

An important objective is achieved by the structural connection of the plurality of blade members in that the webs practically fall together to provide a quick and easy assembly, and a single blow locks them into a strong rigid unit ready to be fastened to the base.

Other important objectives are provided by the temporary connection of the blades to the base and by the specific base structure that materially increases its strength.

It is an important objective to provide an earth anchor that is simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture and assemble, highly efficient in operation and which can be readily utilized by any one with only a minimum of instruction.

The foregoing and numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will more clearly appear from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, particularly when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the earth anchor;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view as seen along line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, exploded perspective View of the webs of the four blade members;

FIG. 4 is a reduced. perspective view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the webs interconnected;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the nested Webs of the blade members, but showing a modified connection, and

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view as seen along lines 66 of FIG. 5.

Referring now by characters of reference to the drawing, and first to FIGS. 1 and 2, it is seen that the earth anchor includes four blade members generally indicated at 10 which are formed of sheet metal. Each blade member 10 consists of a blade 11 and an angularly relate-d, integral web 12, the blade 11 and web 12 being separated by a transverse bending zone 13 defined. by a pair of elongate slots 14 that cooperate to reduce the amount of metal in order to facilitate bending.

To provide more strength and rigidity to the blade members 10, each of the blades 11 includes a longitudinal rib 25.

As is best seen in FIG. 3, each web 12 consists of side portions 15 and 16 of substantially equal width. One of the side web portions 15 is displaced from the plane of the other side web portion 16 a distance approximating the thickness of the sheet metal forming the Web 12. More particularly, the side web portion 15 is raised relative to the other side web portion 16 to provide a shoulder 22 that extends from the bending zone 13 to the inner margin 17 of the web 12.

In the embodiment disclosed in FIGS. 1-4, the relatively raised side web portion 15 is provided with a slot 20 therethrough while the relatively lowered side web portion 16 is provided with an up-struck car 21 adapted to interfit the slot 20 formed in an adjacent blade member 10 when the webs are assembled in nested relation as explained subsequently. Moreover, for reasons which will later appear, the slot 21] and the car 21 are arranged substantially at right angles to a line bisecting the longitudinal axes of adjacent blade members 10.

When assembling the blade members 110, each blade member 10 has its relatively raised side web portion 15 overlapping the relatively lowered side web portion 16 of an adjacent blade member 10. The inner margin 17 of each web 12 is disposed closely adjacent .to, if not abutting, the shoulders 22 on the adjacent webs 15. As stated previously, the ears 21 will project upwardly through the slots 20. A single blow by a suitable tool top Webs 12 with repeated blows.

will bend the ears 21 to secure the webs 12 in interlocked relation as is clearly illustrated in FIG. 4.

The inner margin 17 of each web 12 is provided with an arcuate recess 23 immediately at the shoulder 22, the arcuate recess 23 being specifically a quadrant of a circle. The up-struck ear 21 is formed from the inner margin 17 at the shoulder 22 and thereby removes this portion of the metal immediately adjacent the recess 23 It will be seen that when the webs 12 are nested together and interlocked as shown in FIG. 4, that the arcuate recesses 23 cooperate to provide a continuous circular opening at the center through which an anchor rod 24 extends.

Other fastening means can be advantageously utilized to secure the webs 12 in interlock, nested relation in lieu of the structural arrangement of the .slots 20 and ears 21. For example, in FIGS. 5 and 6, it is seen that the overlapped side web portions 15 and 16 of adjacent blade members are secured together by rivets 26.

In each of the embodiments described previously, the

' overlapped side web portions and 16 afford a substantially fiat top surface because such side web portions are displaced relative to each other a distance approximating thickness of the sheet metal.

The blade members 10, when assembled, are disposed as a unit on a base or blade-expanding member generally referred to at 27. The base 27 is constructed of a sheet metal and in the embodiment disclosed is generally circular in configuration although obviously not limited to such particular shape. The base 27 includes a down-turned peripheral flange 30 that is inclined inwardly to provide greater strength and to facilitate usage. The top center portion 31 of base 27 is depressed to provide greater strength. The depressed portion 31 is provided with a central opening 32 through which the anchor rod 24 extends.

The blade members 10 are seated in position on top of the base 27 so that the outer edges of the blades 11 engage the base periphery. The blades 11 are secured temporarily to the base 27 by lugs 33.

Then, the anchor rod 24 is inserted through the uppermost opening formed in webs 12, through the base opening 32 and thence into threaded engagement with the retaining nut 34.

It is thought that the operation and functional advantages of the earth anchor have become apparent from the foregoing detailed description of parts, but for complete- .ness of disclosure, the assembly and usage will be briefly 7 set forth.

It will be assumed first that the slot and ear type connection between the blade members 10 is utilized.

The blade members 10 are assembled by nesting the webs 12 in such a way that the relatively raised side web portion 15 of each blade member overlaps the relatively lowered side web portion 16 of an adjacent blade member, and in such a way that the slot 20 of each Web receives the upstanding ear 21 of the adjacent web. The inner margin 17 of each web is disposed closely adjacent to the shoulders 22 formed on the webs of the adjacent blade members. The ears 21 are bent over by a single blow of a tool to clamp the webs 12 together. The blade members 10 are now held as a single unit.

Then, the blade member assembly is disposed on top of the base 27 and is secured to the periphery of such base by the lugs 33.

Of course, instead of the slot and ear type arrangement, the webs 12 of the nested blade members 10 can be secured together by rivets 26 interconnecting the overlapping side web portions 15 and 16, as is shown best in FIGS. 5 and 6.

To utilize the anchor, an anchor rod 24 is inserted through the top webs 12 of the blade members 10, through the base opening 32 and into engagement with the nut 34. After the anchor is inserted into the ground and located in proper position, a ram is used to strike the The temporary conmotion between the outer edge of the blades 11 and the base 27 as provided by the lugs 33 is immediately broken and the blades 11 are expanded outwardly and guided by the base 27. As the blades 11 are urged outwardly into earth-engaging position, the blade members 10 bend in the bending zone 13. When the nested webs 12 strike the upper portion of base 27, the blade members 10 are fully extended.

Although the invention has been described by making detailed reference to a preferred embodiment and a modification thereof, such detail is to be understood in an instructive, rather than in any restrictive sense, many variants being possible within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an expansion earth anchor:

(a) a plurality of blade members each of which includes a blade and an integral web,

(h) each web having one side raised out of the plane of the other directly opposed side to provide a shoulder therebetween, each blade member having its one raised web side overlapping the one relatively lowered web side of only one adjacent blade member, and

(c) means securing the web together.

2. In an expansion earth anchor:

(a) a plurality of blade members each of which includes a blade and an integral web,

(h) each web having one side displaced out of plane of the other directly opposed side a distance approximating the thickness of said web, each blade member having its one relatively raised web side overlapping the one relatively lowered web side of only one adjacent blade member to provide a substantially flat top surface, and

(c) means securing said webs together.

3. In an expansion earth anchor:

(a) a plurality of blade members each of which includes a blade and an integral web,

(b) each web having one side displaced from the plane of the other directly opposed side to provide a shoulder therebetween, each blade member having its one relatively raised web side overlapping the one relatively lowered web side of only one adjacent blade member,

(c) each web having an inner margin provided with an arcuate recess, said recess forming a substantially circular opening when the webs are arranged in overlapped relation adapted to receive an anchor rod, and

(d) means securing said webs together.

4. In an expansion earth anchor:

(a) a plurality of blade members each of which includes a blade and an integral web,

(h) each web having one side portion displaced from the plane of the other directly opposed side portion to provide a shoulder therebetween, each blade member having its one relatively raised side web portion overlapping the one relatively lowered side web portion of only one adjacent blade member,

(c) each web having an inner margin extending between its associated side web portions,

((1) each relatively raised one side web portion being provided with an arcuate recess on its associated inner margin,

(e) each relatively lowered one side web portion having an upstruck ear from its associated inner margin at the adjacent recess,

(f) each relatively raised one side web portion being provided with a slot receiving the ear of the one side web portion of only one adjacent blade member, said ears being bent to secure said webs together, and

(g) said recesses forming a continuous substantially circular opening when the webs are arranged in overlapping relation adapted to receive an anchor rod.

5. In an expansion earth anchor:

(a) a plurality of blade members each of which includes a blade and an integral web,

(b) each web having one side portion displaced from the plane of the other directly opposed side portion a distance approximating the thickness of said web so as to provide a substantially flat top surface when the webs are overlapped,

(c) each blade member having its one relatively raised side web portion overlapping the One relatively lowered side web portion of only one adjacent blade member,

(d) one said side web portion of each blade member being provided with an ear, and

(e) the other opposed said side Web portion of each blade member being provided with a slot receiving the ear of the one side web portion of the said one adjacent blade member, said ears being bent to secure said webs together.

6. The combination and arrangement of elements as recited above in claim 5, but further characterized in that said ears and slots are elongate and are arranged substantially at right angles to a line bisecting the angle formed between the longitudinal axes of adjacent blade members so that substantially the same stress resistance is obtained along the longitudinal axes of the blade members.

7. The combination and arrangement of elements as recited above in claim 5, but further characterized in that the ear on each web is provided on the one relatively lowered side web portion while the said slot of each web is provided in the opposed relatively raised side web portion.

8. In an expansion earth anchor:

(a) a plurality of blade members each of which includes a blade and an integral web,

(b) each web having one side portion displaced from the plane of the other directly opposed side portion a distance approximating the thickness of said web so as to provide a substantially fiat top surface when the webs are overlapped,

(c) each blade member having its one relatively raised side web portion overlapping the one relatively lowered side web portion of only one adjacent blade member, and

(d) rivets interconnecting the overlapped web portions to secure the webs together.

9. In an expansion earth anchor:

(a) four blade members each of which includes a blade and an integral Web,

(h) each web having directly opposed side web portions,

(0) one side portion of each web being displaced from the plane of the other directly opposed portion to provide a shoulder therebetween, the distance between the planes of said side portions of each Web being approximately the thickness of said web so as to provide a substantially flat top surface when the webs are overlapped,

(d) each blade member having its relatively raised one side web portion overlapping the relatively lowered one side web portion of only one adjacent blade member,

(e) each web having an inner margin disposed close to the shoulders of both adjacent blade members,

(f) one said side web portion of each blade member being provided with an ear, and

(g) the other opposed said side web portion of each blade member being provided with a slot receiving the ear of the one side web portion of the said one adjacent blade member, said ears being bent over the side web portions containing the associated slots to secure said webs together.

10. The combination and arrangement of elements as recited above in claim 9, but further characterized in that the said ear on each web is provided on the relatively lowered one side web portion while the said slot in each web is provided in the relatively raised directly opposed side web portion.

11. The combination and arrangement of elements as recited above in claim 9, but further characterized in that the said ears and slots are elongate and are arranged substantially at right angles to a line bisecting the angle formed between the longitudinal axes of adjacent blade members in order to obtain substantially the same stress resistance along the longitudinal axes of all blade members.

12. In an expansion earth anchor:

(a) four blade members each of which includes a blade and an integral web,

(b) each web having opposed side web portions,

(c) one of side web portions being displaced from the plane of the other directly opposite side web portion to provide a shoulder therebetween, the distance between the planes of said opposed side web portions of each web being approximately the thickness of said web so as to provide a substantially flat top surface when the webs are overlapped,

(d) each blade member having its relatively raised one side Web portion overlapping the relatively lowered one side web portion of only one adjacent blade member,

(e) the web of each blade member having an inner transverse margin disposed close to the shoulders of both adjacent blade members,

(f) the relatively lowered side web portion of each blade member being provided with an upstruck ear, and the relatively raised side web portion being provided with a slot receiving the ear of the relatively lowered side Web portion of an adjacent blade men1- ber,

(g) said ears and slots being arranged substantially at right angles to a line bisecting the longitudinal axes of adjacent blade members,

(h) said ears being bent over the overlapping web portions to secure said webs together, and

(i) means in each of said blade members between the blade and web providing a bending zone, the shoulder of each Web extending substantially from the inner margin to said zone.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,538,409 1/1951 Binkley 52-160 RICHARD W. COOKE, JR., Primary Examiner. 

1. IN AN EXPANSION EARTH ANCHOR: (A) A PLURALITY OF BLADE MEMBERS EACH OF WHICH INCLUDES A BLADE AND AN INTEGRAL WEB, (B) EACH WEB HAVING ONE SIDE RAISED OUT OF THE PLANE OF THE OTHER DIRECTLY OPPOSED SIDE TO PROVIDE A SHOULDER THEREBETWEEN, EACH BLADE MEMBER HAVING ITS ONE RAISED WEB SIDE OVERLAPPING THE ONE RELATIVELY 